Aqsa the Astronaut
Dreams Are Important
I have always dreamed of becoming the first female Afghan Astronaut because I find it very interesting to travel from Earth all the way to the moon or maybe even to another planet! I am always filled with wonder about so many things: What is the moon like? Is it just a giant rock floating in space? Can I draw on a piece of paper on the moon? I think about all sorts of crazy stuff like that.
I want to be an astronaut because it sounds much more interesting and fun than any other job I can imagine! I also want to be the first girl to score a goal with a soccer ball on the moon! I don’t know if it’s possible, but I don’t want to look it up. If they say it's impossible, then one of my biggest goals will just disappear. And about aliens—now, I don't know if they are real or not, but if they are, then maybe I might be the first girl, or even the first person, ever to see an alien!
I am trying my hardest at school so that I can become an astronaut. I passed the (English Language Arts) ELA and Math Standard of Learning (SOL) this year! For some reason, we didn't have to take the social studies one, and there wasn’t even a science one! My dad believes in me and says I should never give up on my biggest dreams. My mom believes in me, too, but she also thinks I should consider a simple job, like being a doctor. But I want to be an astronaut so that I can make myself happy and bring my dreams to life.
Another reason I am drawn to the stars is because no Afghan woman has ever traveled to space. The only astronaut from our country was Abdul Ahad Momand, who went to space with the Soviets. This fact makes my dream even more significant. I want to show the Taliban and like-minded people that girls and women can achieve anything that men can. I want to be a beacon of possibility, not just for me but for every girl who has been told she can't
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I also want to encourage other girls, especially those in Afghanistan, to dream big and strive to achieve those dreams. It's important to me to demonstrate that our dreams are valid and achievable, no matter where we come from or what others might say.
I am working hard for my dream to come true. I study hard at school and always pay attention when the teachers are teaching! I hope I become an astronaut and make myself and my family proud. I really do hope so.
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Keep dreaming, Aqsa! You’ll be able to play a wild game of soccer on the moon given the one-sixth gravity field (compared to Earth’s gravity). You’d probably want to increase the size of the playing field and goals significantly to best accommodate the effects/benefits of the lower gravity. My recommendation is to study the various factors thoroughly and use the study to help propel yourself through school to achieve your goal of becoming an astronaut!
Aqsa, I have no doubt that you have the intelligence and drive to achieve your dream of becoming an astronaut! However, if you should change your mind along the way, please consider writing as an option too, because you clearly have a gift for that as well! And keep us posted, we are all rooting for you!